Rivalling soaps Coronation Street and EastEnders will have to battle for the New Year's ratings as their hour-long specials will air at the same time.

On the first day of 2019, when the pair will air their special episodes, viewers will have to choose which one they love the most as both Corrie and EastEnders is set to air at 8pm, according to newly released schedules.

Emmerdale will swerve further clashes by airing its hour-long special at 7pm, meaning there will be no worries for fans of the dales.

Both shows are set to be pretty dramatic, with S Club 7's Hannah Spearritt confirming she will be reprising her role as Kandice Taylor over the festive period.

Alfie with his new daughter (Image: BBC / Kieron McCarron)

Also, Alfie Moon has just returned to discover he has a child with his wife Kat's cousin, Hayley Slater, which will cause major chaos as the baby bombshell threatens to destroy the family.

Mick Carter is also expected to return over Christmas, no doubt seeking revenge against Stuart Highway, who has been romancing his wife Linda while he is banged up for a crime he didn't commit.

Meanwhile, on the cobbles, Liz Mcdonald is set to be hit by a car in a shocking hit-and-run, while Lewis Archer, the romancer of Audrey Roberts, may come to a grisly end in rumoured soap storylines for the yuletide season.

Coronation Street's New Year bloodbath victim may have been revealed (Image: ITV)

Nigel Havers, who plays Lewis, has suggested this himself, joking his character is set for a "grim" storyline.

BBC's Christmas Day schedule, on the other hand, is set to include an EastEnders, Strictly Come Dancing, Call the Midwife, and Mrs Brown's Boys Christmas special - as well as Michael McIntyre Big Christmas Show.

It will also include films such as My Week With Marilyn, the 2016 remake of The Jungle Book, and Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were Rabbit.